Wichita eagle., 1887-06-26
SUCCESSFUL PLANT.
Kansas Vinegar and Cider Company Turn Out
Fifteen Barrels per Day with = Coed Market.

Kansas Vinegar and Cider Company Turn Out
Fifteen Barrels per Day with Coed Market.
Last September Mr.. L o. Phillips came
to the city from Ottawa, Illinois. He had
there been engaged in the manufacture of
vinegar, and his visit to Wichita was to look
over the facilities for starting a similar IL
dustry. He soon became convinced Of the
city's Importance and future greatness as
distributing and manufacturing center.
With such conviction he decided TO start a
vinegar plant.
After looking around for some time he
found it almost impossible to secure suitable
building. He introduced his scheme to Mr..
P V. Healy who being favorably impressed
with the scheme decided to erect a building
especially for vinegar works. He erected on
Rock Island avenue three story brick, hav-
ing front of twenty-five feet and eighty feet
Deep The building is one of the strongest in
the city, as the use to be made of it called fer
an unusually strong building. freight
elevator O; the most improved style is in the
building.
When the building was completed it
was several weeks before the water
company extended their mains to the build
ing, which made delay in starting the works
imperative. 1t was not until near the first
of April that work was commenced.
The plant is called the Kansas Vinegar 6
Cider Company. 1t is operated by Mr.. l..
O. Phillips and NJ H. Phillips, both having
lad long experience in that business.
The stock from which the vinegar is made
is hard cider, New Orleans molasses, or sor-
ghum. The cider is secured in Michigan and
is of the best quality, as well as the other
material used. The cider and molasses
are placed in tanks in the third story. There
are eight tanks, each having capacity OF
$50 gallons, in which the cider and molasses
are placed in certain proportions 1t is there
allowed to remain some days, giving it time
to ferment After fermenting it is con-
Quoted to fermenting tanks. OF these there
are five, each having capacity OF five bar
rels. 1t is then drawn off to the second floor
where it is received by the generating tanks.
The generating room is not exactly pleas
ant one for tender foot in the
business At the door one is met
by sort of atmosphere heavily charged
gases with that bring tears in the eyes
OF the most persistent sinner and the hacking
cough that follows causes him to suspicion
that he is merging OF a protracted effort OF
summer whooping-cOugh. In the multiple
ity Of serious symptoms the five generating
tanks AKA and twelve feet high receive the
fluid from the filter tubs. Both the filter
tubs and generators are filed with straw and
shavings which assist in giving the fluids
vinegar properties.
On the first floor are the receiving tanks
They are three in number and hold about
eighty-seven barrels. From them the vine
gar is drawn ready for the market, but age
increases its value.
The plant has capacity for fifteen barrels
per day The company find ready sale for
all their goods and contemplate Increasing
the plant. They say they can make fifty
barrels per day and labor will cost
but little more than at present. Some OF the
prominent business men in the city contem-
plate taking stock, and not only increase the
vinegar making capacity, but start depart
ment for picking. They can then put up
bottled goods.
The vinegar works of st. Louis have form
erly been supplying the southwest aud north
ern Texas and New Mexico. 1t is believed
that these works can supply that territory to
a better advantage than st. Louis, and that
it rightly belongs to Wichita. The proprie-
tors have no fears of being unable to supply
that territory at profit from Wichita if the
plant had the capacity to make the goods.
In view of this fact the plant will probably
soon be enlarged sufficiently to command
the territory desired.